[Differential therapy of chronic pain syndromes of the musculoskeletal system in primary health care]. / Differenzielle Therapie chronischer Schmerzsyndrome am Bewegungsapparat in der ärztlichen Grundversorgung.

For treatment of chronic non-malignant musculoskeletal pain syndromes to be successful, simultaneous medical and psychosocial interventions are required. We provide different treatment options for chronic pain disorders for the primary care physician who is not a trained psychotherapist. We stress that the physician must adopt a particular therapeutic attitude towards his patient. We further emphasize the elaboration of a biopsychosocial disease model with the patient, cognitive-behavioral interventions, treatment of associated sleep disorders, the use of a rational drug therapy regimen, physical therapy, relaxation techniques, and involvement of the social environment. Such treatment strategies may help primary care physicians to treat their patients suffering from chronic pain more successfully and with greater patient satisfaction.